'She could be six from six': owner confident Rubisaki can measure up
Prime Thoroughbreds and Patrick Payne have had a bit of success targeting sales races and will again be trying to sneak a big prize with Rubisaki in Saturday’s Inglis Sprint.
Ask the trainer and he is conservative about the chances of the Victorian visitor in the $1 million affair, but the owner's eye sees that little bit more in this Rubick filly, and with good reason.
Rubisaki chases the million-dollar Inglis Sprint on Saturday.Credit:Getty Images
Rubisaki has an impressive record of four wins from six starts down south, the other two runs resulting in seconds, and she comes into the race with a couple of successes under her belt this summer.
"She is very good and with a touch of luck she could be six from six," enthused Joe O'Neill from Prime Thoroughbreds.
"I had a similar filly in Flying Jess a couple of years ago and she was able to win a Magic Millions Guineas when we gave her a shot.
"This filly is better than Jess. She is still a little immature but I would think this time next year we will be back up here for a race like the Coolmore Classic.
"We like her a lot."
Rubisaki has the added bonus of winning in the wet, which will no doubt be an aid on Saturday, but Payne still needs convincing she will be up to the Sydney challenge.
“Joe picked out this race out for her. We have had a couple of wins in Magic Millions races and these races are a good chance for that next-tier horse to earn some really good money,” Payne said.
“I wasn’t that sure about her at this level but some of the better ones are chasing black-type, so she gets her chance.
"She is still growing up and will get stronger but it is worth having a crack at this race."
Beteasy have the Chris Waller-trained True Detective as a well-supported $3.60 favourite, while Rubisaki is on the second line of betting at $4.20 with Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Xilong.
Payne admits he wants to see her do it against better horses, even though she was stakes-placed in the Melbourne winter in the Gibson Carmichael Stakes.
“That was at the lower end of stakes races. She is a nice little horse and her attitude probably out weighs her ability at this point,” Payne said.
“When we were talking about this race, I said to Joe a little bit of rain would definitely help her and we are going to get that.
“I’m not saying she is a wet-tracker but that attitude, where nothing worries her, really helps her and she is a lightly-framed filly and they generally get through the ground really well.
"Billy [Egan] knows her very well and I wanted him to come up to ride because it will help her a bit."